It was my pleasure to host Grapes of Wrath vocalist/guitarist Kevin Kane in the studio for Episode 56 of NSTS. I really admired this band during my university years, as a lot of their songs really resonated with me and still do. Kevin still performs with Grapes, but is now also a member of The Northern Pikes, another great Canadian band.

Kev and I have a great chat about the songs that make his skin (as he puts it) “wiggle”, in addition to other things, such as how Steve Winwood got his Hammond organ sound, Jimmy Page as a hired gun, his obsession with the Stones’ Exile On Main Street, why Chuck Berry records are scary, the making of the “All The Things I Wasn’t” video, and what the four components of a classic album really are. And, as he often does, David Bowie works his way into the conversation.
 

Kane’s playlist:

Shack – Natalie’s Party

Talk Talk – Desire

Go Betweens – Cattle and Cane

Sloan – The Good In Everyone

Queen and David Bowie – Under Pressure

Roy Harper – Commune

The Rolling Stones – Rocks Off

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Bob Mayo joins me via Skype from the Boston area for this week’s episode of No Sleep ’til Sudbury. Bob is the former bassist of thrash metal act Wargasm, and he writes an absolutely killer music blog called Mayonoise which I highly recommend.

Bob discusses some impressive insights on Cheap Trick and the oft-overlooked depth of their lyrics. We also discuss Blue Oyster Cult’s relationship with Black Sabbath, Dave Mustaine’s attitude, our perspectives on AC/DC’s formula, and why we’ll be friends for a very long time.
 

Mayo’s playlist:

Motorhead – The Hammer

Blue Oyster Cult – Don’t Fear The Reaper

Cheap Trick – Auf Weidersehen

AC/DC – Gone Shootin’

Megadeth – Holy Wars/The Punishment Due

Budgie – Napoleon Bona Parts I and II

Opeth – The Grand Conjuration

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My guest this week touches on all the aspects that make for a really great show – engagement, keen insight, great stories, interesting little known facts, honesty, and humour. CEO of content marketing agency Church + State with a background in comedy, Ron Tite brings in the songs that make his skin vibrate for a variety of reasons, and the result is an extremely enjoyable conversation.

Ron recounts a Johnny Cash show where he was too drunk to perform, Erica Ehm’s take on The Barenaked Ladies, and the Beastie Boys’ opinion of Slayer guitar solos being inserted into their songs. He also tells some cool stories about Bourbon Tabernacle Choir, Moby, and Eddie Murphy. Brilliant episode.
 

Tite’s playlist:

George Jones – Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes

The Beastie Boys – No Sleep ’til Brooklyn

She Stole My Beer – Sparks Off The Guardrail

Luciano Pavarotti performing Puccini – Nessun Dorma

Jason Mraz – I’m Yours

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NSTS episode 53 is part two of my chat with former Melody Maker journalist Chris Charlesworth. Chris has so many personal stories about rock stars like David Bowie that I just sit back and let him lay them all out.

Chris talks about Bowie’s death and what it was like to be his press officer, which ABBA member had stage fright, how the bass player is the secret weapon of most bands, and the celebrity he found himself sitting behind at Wembley during a Stone Roses show.
 

Charlesworth’s playlist:

David Bowie – Heroes

ABBA – One Of Us

REM – Perfect Circle

Stone Roses – Ten Storey Love Song

Gillian Welch – Elvis Presley Blues

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If you want to hear some absolutely fascinating stories about Elvis, John Lennon, and the guys from Led Zeppelin and The Who, listen to this episode. Legendary Melody Maker journalist and former Omnibus Press managing editor Chris Charlesworth is someone who occupied the inner circles of many a rock star in the 60s and 70s, including those named above along with several others.

Over the phone from the UK, Chris provides some highly-detailed insights regarding his relationships with Pete Townshend and The Who, what it was like to FLY LED ZEPPELIN’S PLANE (!), and his experiences with John Lennon, including John’s phone call to Chris saying it was ‘Johnny Beatle’ calling.

Incredibly entertaining personal stories about rock’s largest legends, from an equally legendary rock writer. Do not miss this.
 

Charlesworth’s playlist:

Elvis Presley – Mystery Train

The Who – Substitute

The Kinks – Waterloo Sunset

The Beatles – Don’t Let Me Down

Led Zeppelin – Rock and Roll

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Former Spoons and Honeymoon Suite keyboardist Rob Preuss may be a New Yorker now, but he’s still a true blue Canadian at heart. And he makes his return to the No Sleep ’til Sudbury podcast with a fun Canuck twist!

Rob brings in five songs that make his skin vibrate that were hits in Canada but nowhere else in the world (with the exception of maybe one of them). He’s always been hilarious and super knowledgeable during our musical chats, and this conversation is no exception. We talk about the importance of musical democracy, The Wrecking Crew, theremins, Miss Saigon, Gilligan’s last name, and the myth behind the piano track on “Takin’ Care of Business”. Great, great fun.

Preuss’ playlist:

Sweet Blindness – National Poddy

BTO – Takin’ Care of Business

Rufus Wainwright – Foolish Love

Ray Materick – Linda Put The Coffee On

The Kings – This Beat Goes On/Switchin To Glide

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We made it to 50! Joining me to celebrate are legendary Toronto on-air personality Lee Eckley and rising stars Cody J.R. Bowles and Kevin Comeau of Crown Lands.

We figured we’d do something a little different for the 50th episode. The Crown Lands boys showed up with some gear, and while talking about the songs that make our skin vibrate, we jammed out a greasy Queen cover with Eckley on drums, Kev on bass, Cody singing and playing bongos, and me on guitar. I thank my guests for their patience with my mediocre guitar playing, and I appreciate them letting me in on the fun. Like the jam, the production of this episode is loose and raw, just as I like my rock & roll to be.
 

The 50th episode playlist:

Led Zeppelin – Heartbreaker

Bob Dylan – Time Out Of Mind (album)

Genesis – Watcher of the Skies

Queen – The Show Must Go On

AC/DC – Sin City

Queen – Dragon Attack (jam)

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Author of the new book The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern: A Complete History David McPherson joins me for a chat in Episode 49 of No Sleep ’til Sudbury. The book is an excellent testament to one of Canada’s greatest all-time live music institutions, The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto.

We discuss the 70th anniversary of the ‘Shoe and some of the really great shows that have taken place there, and why live music is still so important today. We also chat about my favourite John Prine tune, KD Lang’s incredible voice, The Black Crowes, and my beloved Joni Mitchell.
 

McPherson’s playlist:

John Prine – Hello In There

KD Lang – Hallelujah

Neil Young – Cortez The Killer

Jimmy Buffett – He Went To Paris

Joni Mitchell – The Circle Game

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Brother Zakk Wylde talks to me from his tour bus in Akron, Ohio about two lists of songs that make his skin vibrate – the first one is the ‘exclusive’ list best not shared beyond the tour bus, and the second being the more PG version. Zakk’s hilarious and still a super genuine guy.

During our chat he tells some great Ozzy stories complete with a spot-on Oz impression, the importance of payola, what made Randy Rhoads so great, rock and roll genealogy, and what ingredients go into the Zakk Wylde ‘soup’.

Wylde’s playlist:

Elton John – Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds

Black Sabbath – Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (album)

Al DiMeola – Land of the Midnight Sun (album)

John McLaughlin – Anything

Frank Marino – The Power of Rock and Roll (album)

Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin I (album)

Ozzy Osbourne – Diary of a Madman (album)

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In episode 47 of No Sleep ’til Sudbury, Rheostatics guitarist and prolific author Dave Bidini returns to the studio with a few more songs to discuss.

This time around we talk about a new Rheostatics record, Spanish roosters, Michael Stipe, the unsettling science experiment that was Devo, and the late great Stompin’ Tom Connors.
 

Bidini’s playlist:

Ian Tyson – Gallo de Cielo

REM – It’s The End of the World

Neil Young – Thrasher

Jackson 5 – I Want You Back

Stompin’ Tom Connors – Bridge Came Tumbling Down

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